Happy Coming Out Day! There is something that you can do today that, I believe, can make a huge difference in the coming months to gain equality. It will take only a few minutes and you can do it from...

My name is Andrew Oppleman and this is my story…Little did I know, last Friday night Sept 22th 2012, I’d be changed forever.I was in town for Austin Pride. It was one of my many trips to enjoy all that Austin has to offer; great entertainment, outdoor recreation and most of all the people; laid back and easy going. My welcome started like this…My buddy Nick Soret was ordering pizza at 4th and Colorado at about midnight as I just arrived from a 3 hour drive from Houston. As I waited for Nick to grab his pizza and leave, another patron started screaming at Nick “What are you looking at?” over and over again. As he grabbed Nick’s hot pizza and threw it on Nick’s face, arm and body the man proceeded to start punching him. I immediately tried to quell the suspects rage and told the man to “STOP HITTING MY FRIEND!” With that he turned around and pushed me down into the construction on the street. I got up and as I turned back to the Pizza Truck I was immediately met with the amazing force of his fist hitting me square in the mouth. I then saw the man wildly punching Nick’s skull, and body as Nick fell to the ground in a fetal position trying to protect his face and head. As quickly as it started the suspect ran away, while his friend who is an Austin local just stood there and laughed as blood gushed from my mouth. I then spent 8 hours at Brackenridge Hospital. In the end Nick sustained a black eye, a busted and bruised lip and additional bruises on his body. I left Austin with a busted lip and 6 missing teeth.I invite you to join us and the rest of the Austin community this Saturday at 11:45am at Austin City Hall to raise awareness and March Against Hate To the Capitol. Spread the word to take Austin back!﻿

AUSTIN - Due to the 78% chance of rain tomorrow and possible flash floods, we wanted to make sure that everyone was safe while marching against hate. You can't fight for full equality in all matters governed by civil law if you aren't safe and sound. We've had to move tomorrow's march to the following Saturday, Oct 6th. Due to conflicts with the on going Farmer's Market that is held at Republic Square Park, we've moved the gathering place to Austin City Hall.We meet at City Hall at 11:45 AM on Oct 6th and begin to march to the Capitol promptly at noon. ﻿

#RealPride#WeCantWait Today we reminded the President of a very important campaign promise in 2008 - the ENDA Executive Order. It has been sitting on his desk awaiting his signature alone since 2009 and would protect more than 25% of the American workforce. If you would like to get involved in actions like these, or if you would like to support actions like these, you can do so by going here: http://www.getequaltx.org/﻿

The Mayor's office has been in contact with GetEQUAL TX and asked for a meeting on the condition that we halt demonstrations. We told the mayors office that we would meet on the condition that he is willing to sign the pledge. Neither parties were willing to meet those conditions. We do not compromise our values especially when the only one doing the "giving" in a compromise is us.

We have suffered too long to stay seated and quiet. The time has come for true equality!﻿

As we continue to work towards #equality by putting pressure on the powerholders, there is still the harsh reality of the global social climate to contend with.In the last 12 months, over 265 #transgender people were brutally murdered around the globe. This is a 20% increase from last year's 221 murders.Here in Texas, not only is the social climate toward the transgender community callous but, the transgender community suffers great discrimination both legally and socially.Transgender Day Of Remembrance is set aside every year, on November 20th, to remember those who have been murdered and to reflect on the mission ahead for equality.We urge everyone who is able, to find a #TDOR observance event near you and show up in love and support.﻿

This is Andrew Oppleman. Andrew was visiting Austin for Pride weekend. On Friday, Sept 21, 2012 he and friend Nick Soret went downtown to enjoy Austin's vibrant night life. Around midnight they stopped at a food truck for a slice of pizza. That stop resulted in both men being beaten simply for being gay men who dared to be within eye sight. Andrew was punched so hard that 8 of his teeth were knocked out.

If you are ever a victim of or a witness to a hate crime, call 911 as soon as you can. Make sure that you tell the officers that arrive that it was a hate crime and ask to be connected to victim services or your PD's equivilant service.﻿

Call To Action: August 2nd 1776 was the formal signing of the Declaration of Independence and a historical landmark for freedom in America. 236 years, to the day, Mark "Major" Jiminez and Beau Chandler will be making history of their own as they step into their respective court rooms to demand their freedom to marry.

The local community will hold a rally outside of the courthouse and then enter the courthouse in support of these two men to hear the case. All of the information is within that event page. If you are in or around Dallas, please make sure to attend!

You can donate to help offset fees and fines at http://www.getequaltx.org/ just use the 'note' section to let us know you want to earmark the donation for Mark and Beau.

Greater than the need for those monetary donations though, is the need for the donation of time and creativity. This was a very creative and brave way to highlight one injustice in our society.

We must take a que from Major and Beau and stand up for our equal rights in all matters governed by civil law!

The volunteers at GetEQUAL TX are here to help plan and facilitate any action that you wish to take on August 2nd so long as it follows the principals of Non-Violent Civil Disobedience and so long as its intent is to highlight the urgent need for full federal equality.

We must remember that we are far more than marriage. Here are some of the ways in which discrimination against the LGBTQI population is pervasive in our legal system and in our society.

Employment - It is LEGAL in 28 states to fire someone, refuse to hire someone, or refuse promotion for an employee solely because they are lesbian, gay, or bisexual. It is LEGAL in 35 states to fire someone, refuse to hire someone, or refuse promotion to someone solely because they are gender diverse.

Housing - It is LEGAL to deny housing or even evict a person from their home simply for being LGBT. This includes homeless shelters

Credit - It is LEGAL to deny a person credit solely because they are LGBT

Immigration - LGBT folks are unable to sponsor their partners for citizenship (because of DOMA) and are often given NO legal pathway to citizenship.

Public Facilities - LGBT folks can legally be denied access to public facilities

Public Accomodations - LGBT folks can be denied service at any public place

Education - We need Anti-Bullying laws. Currently, most schools punish the victim and not the offender. Anti- LGBT bullying has led to a dramatic increase in suicides and suicide attempts for LGBT youth

Marriage - Not only does the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) need to be repealed, but marriage equality on a federal level needs to pass. Even if marriage equality were to pass in all 50 states, LGBT families would still be denied access to 1138 FEDERAL rights that can only be granted through federally recognized marriage.

25 to 40% of all homeless youth are LGBTQ identified

LGBT youth are 10 times more likely to attempt suicide and 5 times more likely to succeed than their straight peers.

It is not only acceptable practice but manditory that transgender people be denied entry into the military or be discharged if they are found out.

Transgender people can be denied healthcare.

Transgender women of color are at higher risk of falling victim to physical violence than any other group of people.

34% of black transgender people and 28% of latino transgender people live in extreme poverty with reporting a household income of less than $10,000/year.

Transgender people statistically have a 1 in 11 chance of being murdered in their lifetime.

In Texas the Department of State Health Services is REQUIRED BY LAW to create curricula for public schools that teaches "homosexuality is an unacceptable lifestyle."

Many states, including Texas, do not have a standardized process for changing gender markers on official documents, this creates a situation where people who wish to change their legally recognized gender and have access to financial or social capital are able to do so, while those who are not wealthy or socially connected find it much more difficult.

In Texas it is ILLEGAL for most of the major state university systems to offer domestic partner benefits to faculty or staff, preventing the state from recruiting top faculty.

These are all injustices in which we can all work on fixing both through legislative activism and non-violent civil disobedience.

Contact us at info@getequaltx.org if you want help planning an August 2nd action in your area. If you are outside of Texas, info@getequal.org﻿